Walking football

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Walking football is a variant of association football that is aimed at keeping people aged over 50 involved with football if, due to a lack of mobility or for other reasons, they are not able to play the traditional game. [1] The sport can be played both indoors and outdoors. [2] Coverage of a walking football session, initially believed to be an April Fools' joke, on Sky Sports News and in a documentary aired on Sky Sports Football in October 2017, led to several other clubs taking up this version of the game. [3] [4] It has since become a craze. [5] [6]

There are now thousands of teams and session all over the UK with players now featuring in over 50s, over 60s and over 70s teams. The sport has also proved popular with women over 40.

Though based on association football (albeit with more than 50 differences), the key difference from standard football is that if a player runs then they concede a free kick to the other side. [7] [8] This restriction, together with a ban on slide tackles, is aimed both at avoiding injuries and facilitating the playing of the sport by those who are physically disadvantaged. [9] [8] The manner in which the sport is played promotes cardiovascular fitness whilst reducing stress on the body. [10] It also helps participants maintain an active lifestyle. [11]

In walking football the game was originally played without goalkeepers (though goalkeepers now play in some variations) and, crucially, the ball must never be kicked above head height. [12] Different footballs are used in the indoor and the outdoor variations of the sport. When played indoors, a size 4 futsal ball is used. Outdoor games involve a traditional football. The size of the pitch can vary to suit different locations. The length should be from 20 to 40 yards and the width between 15 and 30 yards. [13]

The sport was created in 2011 by John Croot, [14] but came to wider public attention in July 2014, when Barclays Bank aired a television advertisement featuring walking football to promote its services. [15]

Similar slower-paced sports include walking netball, [16] walking rugby, [17] walking basketball, [18] walking hockey (based on field hockey) [19] and walking cricket. [19]

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Walking netball is a version of netball adapted to be a slower game and thus more inclusive, allowing older or less fit people to continue playing, return to playing, or take up netball for the first time. The main differences in the rules are that running and jumping are not allowed, that an extra step may be taken with the ball, and that the ball may be held for 4 seconds instead of 3 seconds. A walking netball programme was first developed in England in 2017, as a collaboration between England Netball and the charity Age UK. It is played in countries including England, Australia and New Zealand.

References

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  10. "Walking Football Club is a Runaway Success For Society Member Mick Quinn". The Society of Sports Therapists. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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  14. "What is Walking Football?". The Walking Football Association.
  15. "England legends unite to enjoy Walking Football". Premier League. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  17. "Playing walking rugby". www.englandrugby.com. England Rugby. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
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  19. 1 2 "Walking sports". Just Get Active. Retrieved 7 August 2023.